Eva Ason Art & Stuff: Saturday scramble in Wicklow Mountains

I have been a keen hillwalker and mountaineer for some years now, and the best thing I know is to head out early on a Saturday morning, before the crowds arrive. I live in one of the busiest beauty spots in Ireland, the Wicklow Mountains. Its also called the garden of Ireland. You will see why from the pictures I will be posting here in my blog.

This is the upper lake in Glendalough, this is a glacier valley and the lake is very deep. This is one of my favourite spots in Wicklow, and this morning I was walking the Spinc loop, its a nice walk that takes some 3 hours depending on how fast you're walking. I tend to take it easy and enjoy the views.

I am also a volunteer in Mountain rescue in this area, and have at numerous occasions walked up the gazillion steps along the boardwalk carrying equipment, one of the reasons I walk here, to keep fit and get the stamina.

This is my first stop after walking the zig zag path uphill, I sit down admiring the views while having a cuppa, coffee in my case. This is why I prefer to get out early in the morning, when it's still quiet, the birds and the nature is the only sound, and occasionally some other early scramblers.

There are some wild goats living here also, and they were having their morning siesta when I walked by, didn't even flinch when I stopped to take this picture.

Here is another one of my favourite view points, in the distance you see the what we call the lower lake which is located beside the ancient monastic village.

We also have lots of deer roaming in this national park, I always love seeing them. And, this morning was no different. There were many of them around this morning. I have learnt how to identify them by their sound.

There are plenty of streams and rivers in this area, this river flows through the Gleanelo valley all the way down to the upper lake below, passing the old miners village, where there's only ruins left.